By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — The Board of Education is fine with police assigning a dedicated officer to patrol the perimeters of the district’s five elementary schools and two middle schools.

Some members aren’t so sure, however, about that officer setting up shop inside.

“I don’t know what we are solving,” said board member Lee Goldstein. “I haven’t heard a problem articulated.”

“I remember three years ago, the community was fairly divided, even with a [school resource officer],” added board member Youn Su Chao. “For me personally, I understand the value, but I have a hard time with this.”

Superintendent lauds proposal

Not Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice, who came to the district a year ago.

Scarice called a police presence in schools a great idea.

The superintendent told the board at a meeting this week that Police Department officials approached him during the summer with the idea of creating a Westport police patrols beat.

It would involve reassigning a town police officer to patrol the schools as what the department would call a School Security Officer, or SSO.

“I welcome the addition,” Scarice said, calling it value added. 

There was a similar program in place, he said, when he was superintendent of Madison schools.

With 6,000 people on Westport school campuses — more than 5,000 students and 1,000 employees — Scarice said having someone in uniform not only monitor parking lots, but build relationships with students and school staffers would be positive.

Police Capt. Ryan Paulsson, who represented Chief Foti Koskinas at the board meeting, said the SSO position differs from the specially trained School Resource Officer at Staples High School.

The SSO, he said, would not be imbedded in the schools, but would patrol campuses, offer consistent coverage, become familiar with the inner workings of the school day and be a friendly face to staff and students on his “beat.”

Board members raise questions

Board member Liz Heyer said the idea of one officer patrolling the perimeter of schools is a decision for the Police Department to make, not the school board.

“How do you define perimeters?” Heyer asked Paulsson.

Board Secretary Elaine Whitney noted the issue had been discussed extensively three years ago, and probably deserves another public vetting now.

In 2018 — a time when school shootings dominated headlines — the town’s Board of Finance pushed back against the idea of hiring more police officers to patrol town schools.

However, a School Resource Officer was assigned to Staples High School.

In the 2018-19 school year, according to state Department of Education records, there were 13 school-based arrests in Westport public schools, compared to six the year before.

Board Vice Chair Karen Kleine said she recalls discussion of the idea three years ago focused on uncertainty over the police roles and cost, rather than the concept of officers’ presence in schools.

There is a board policy that supports regulations to govern police activity in schools, Kleine added.

Board member Jeannie Smith said having an extra set of eyes in the schools is a good thing, especially with all that is happening in the world — as is having someone who can build connections, relationships and ensure safety and security.

Paulsson said the department is being realigned so that a dedicated SSO would not mean extra cost to the town.

Goldstein asked if the Police Department, which has designated beats for beach, downtown and railroad station areas also have offices in those locations, as is suggested for the school district.

“I need to know more,” said Goldstein. “It doesn’t sit right with me.”

Board Chair Candice Savin wondered if there isn’t a middle ground on the issue. She said she is grateful for police officials’ desire to protect the school district. However, she said she was taken aback to learn three years ago that a police officer had once been assigned to the town’s two middle schools.

“I appreciate that [the superintendent] has a different point of view on the value of police officers going in the building,” Savin said.

Parents seek more information

Dorie Hordon, a parent who listened to the board exchange, said she wanted more clarity on the distinction between the SRO and SSO positions.

“A lot of parents with elementary students feel uneasy of having guns in school,” she said.

Kevin Christie, another district parent, said he fully supports building positive relationships between police departments and the community.

“The safety of every student is of utmost importance,” Christie said, adding he would like to see hard data that show the impact of a police presence in schools.